Tears of Metal Heroes

Four Commanders in Early Access

Tears of Metal entered Early Access on July 22, 2026 with four fully playable heroes as of patch 0.8.57278, each commanding a Scottish battalion across three Acts of roguelike campaigns. Wallace is available immediately; Ruadh Stonecrusher unlocks after defeating the Banshee; Vanguard Tracker joins via the Act II Environment 12 rescue; and Brienne Ironleg unlocks through a dedicated character quest once that node appears on your campaign map. Paper Cult designed every commander around a distinct weapon identity and combat rhythm, so your hero choice shapes how you engage hordes, protect soldiers, and stack Emblem families during a run.

Hero selection happens at the start of each campaign and cannot be changed mid-run, which makes understanding each commander's strengths essential before you commit. Your hero determines base attack strings, dodge timing, block behavior, and which equipment slots feel most impactful. Emblems, Charms, and village upgrades still apply to every hero, but certain families and artifacts skew toward specific playstyles. If you are planning a co-op session, coordinate hero picks so one player handles frontline control while another focuses on burst damage or support.

This hub links to individual hero guides with build recommendations, emblem priorities, and co-op tips. Start with Wallace if you want a balanced first clear, explore Ruadh Stonecrusher after the Banshee, read the Vanguard Tracker guide once you reach the Act II rescue unlock, and chase Brienne Ironleg when her character quest opens. For step-by-step unlock routing see Unlock All Heroes. For deeper build theory, pair these pages with our builds hub and how to play guide.

Hero Progression Between Campaigns

Hero power in Tears of Metal comes from two layers: within-run Emblem and equipment choices, and between-run village meta progression. Weapons, trinkets, skins, and Charms persist across campaigns once unlocked, while Emblem tiers reset each run. Soldiers and companions you recruit also carry experience forward, but permadeath means a fallen ally is gone until you find a replacement. Choosing a hero that matches your village investments—such as a weapon you upgraded at the settlement forge—accelerates early Act clears.

Daily Challenges, shrine objectives, and special battlefield goals unlock cosmetics, additional equipment, and Charms that benefit specific heroes. Wallace players often prioritize versatile sword upgrades, while Ruadh benefits from trinkets that amplify healing pulses or hammer stagger. The third hero typically rewards players who invest in alternate weapon lines at village shops. Check settlement upgrades and equipment guide before starting a new campaign so you are not leaving permanent power on the table.

Hero Roles in Co-op

Online co-op supports up to four players, each controlling their own hero and battalion slice on large battlefields. Co-op does not require tight tactical coordination, but hero synergy still matters when elites, captains, or Act bosses enter the fight. A Ruadh player anchoring the center frees Wallace to flank with light attack chains, while Vanguard Tracker or Brienne Ironleg can specialize in burst windows or objective control depending on their kit.

Healing scarcity makes Ruadh especially valuable in public co-op where players overcommit to aggression. Wallace provides consistent damage and readable telegraphs for newer allies. Mix emblem families across the party rather than duplicating the same clan—Caithness chain lightning and Orbs seekers cover different map shapes, and spreading Mark debuffs helps everyone's finishers. Read co-op multiplayer guide for session setup and battalion management to keep shared objectives from wiping your soldiers.

Which Hero Should You Play?

Pick Wallace for your first full Early Access campaign if you want forgiving blocks, straightforward combos, and strong generalist emblem scaling. Choose Ruadh when you expect difficult elite fights, co-op healing responsibility, or Act 2 hazard zones where staying power beats speed. Select Vanguard Tracker when you have cleared Act 1 at least once and want a fresh scout kit. Add Brienne Ironleg when you want a fast melee brawler who applies constant pressure without Ruadh's anchor pace.

All four heroes can finish the full Early Access campaign solo. Difficulty comes from build execution and soldier preservation more than hero tier lists. Revisit this hub after patches—Paper Cult confirmed two additional teaser heroes during Early Access, and new commanders will appear here as they release.

• Wallace — Balanced sword commander; best first hero. See Wallace guide.
• Ruadh Stonecrusher — Hammer tank with ally healing; unlock after the Banshee. See Ruadh guide.
• Vanguard Tracker — Agile scout and ranged specialist; unlock via Act II rescue. See Vanguard Tracker guide.
• Brienne Ironleg — Fast melee brawler and pressure fighter; unlock via character quest. See Brienne guide.